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Competitive spirit showcased in this year’s Splash and Dash

Barrett Ford named overall winner with a time of 1:30:11

More than 50 people in 19 entries participated in this year's Splash and Dash. Teams and individuals competed in the annual event beginning with swimming, and followed by biking, canoeing, and running. Crook County District Attorney Gary Williams has participated once as a team member and twice as an individual. The first year he participated, six years ago, he came in dead last out of everyone. "I'm curious to see if I've improved my standings," he said. Williams beat his personal goal of 2 hours and 30 minutes when he came in at 2:24:09. Like so many participants, the swimming portion of the race proved most challenging for him. "I trained since Feb. 1 for this race," Williams said. "At my age and athletic ability, that wasn't any too soon. Obviously, I should have started earlier for the swimming." He said he had to wait for the pool to open here in town, only a few weeks ago. With work and family obligations, Williams said he can't be driving to Redmond to train. "Swimming is the most challenging part for me and most teams," he said. "If we had an indoor swimming pool more people would sign up to do it because they could train." Williams said he had great support from his family. "It's a great race and a great community event," he said. Williams finished 18th, followed only by the Eager Beavers. Barrett Ford was the overall winner with a time of one hour, 30 minutes and 11 seconds in the individual male, age 26 to 45 category. His son, Parley Ford, 12, won the individual male age 25 and under with his two hour, 7 minute and 27 second finish. The family lives in Sisters and Barrett works at Prineville's Rebound Physical Therapy. The Lawrence Randle team was first in the mixed category and third overall with a time of one hour, 35 minutes and 47 seconds. Crook County Fire and Rescue won the business category, clocking in at one hour, 39 minutes and 18 seconds and the winning family was the Fly Foleys with a one hour, 41 minute and 30 second finish. The Nerd Squad completed the race in two hours, seven minutes and 55 seconds winning the all female category as the only entry. Stephanie Jessee won the individual female age 25 and under category as the sole entry with a time of two hours, 17 minutes and nine seconds. Team numbers are up this year, said organizer Gail Smith. "Usually when [Independence Day] is on a Wednesday," she said, "we get more contestants because they aren't away for the weekend." Gail's husband, organizer Larry Smith, said there were a lot of last minute registrations this year. "We had eight race day registrations," he said. Last year 15 teams signed up. This year there were 19.